What we've been doing!

Greetings everyone. Sorry for the big blog delay. As you can imagine we've busy as normal. The remodeling and the new studio is coming along great. We are so excited to have it all finished in time for our BIG workshop coming in May with Mike Colon. This will be a great networking time and learning for any photographer wanting to grow there skills as well as their business. We've still got 2 seats available for any of the photogs that checkout our blog. It's not a problem we like to check fellow photog blogs out as well. Also we are hosting a second workshop coming in October. This workshop is going to be a 4 day intensive with 2 days of Corey McNabb and 2 days with .... Still can spill the beans just yet but we are working on a great team mate for Corey.

The coming weeks hold a lot of travel to T&J. In March Brett and Jeff will be heading to Vegas to attend WPPI convention. A sweet bonus is I've been asked to work a trade show booth for our favorite album company. Plus they will be featuring some of our albums at the show to inspire other photogs.

Other things Tyff and I have been up to is starting a new company.... Yeah smart idea with all the free time we have. I know, but this is a great service we are offering to fellow photogs and anyone running a business.

Ok so what is it? The name of our new company is Integrative Ideas, LLC. The service website allows vendors to create custom registries for there own products and services. Yes, we are using it with T&J right now. We've been developing it for over 2 years, and are tweaking little things here and there as we get feedback from our vendors. The website is www.buildaregistry.com. Something Tyff and I have tried to do since starting T&J Studios is to allows find a way to give back. The same rules apply for our new biz venture. We will be donating a portion of the proceeds generated by the use of the registry service to support the fight against Leukemia. Over the past year this cause has become very personal for Tyff and I as my Dad was diagnosed last year. He is doing great and are so glad they found it early.

Well off to sleep for our Houston, TX wedding tomorrow. We will try to post some pics from the wedding Sunday on our way back to Kansas. Talk to everyone later.

Coming to you from the Lone Star State!

We set out on Wednesday for our destination wedding in Houston, TX. We stopped on the way and stayed in a little town, Coriscana, TX then drove onward till we got to Houston. With our GPS we borrowed from Jeff's dad we arrived in Houston around 4:30. Oh, the reason for the long trip... 1st is for our wedding we are documenting on Saturday, 2nd to get away and out of KS for a little while (Jeff and I haven't had a vacation since our honeymoon (5.75 years ago), and third a chance to see the ocean together.

Thursday we drove to Galveston, TX and got some fun shots along the beach. There was "One" crazy surfer we watched and documented. With it being a windy day the waves were definitely up. Along the beach parkway we spotted a Ben & Jerry's Ice-Cream parlor, so we definitely had to grab some ice-cream. Jeff got his favorite, Vanilla in waffle cone, and my favorite, Coffee with Chocolate chunks.

As the sun started to set we thought we better head back to Houston to our hotel where we had reservations set at the Hampton INN. On our way back we grabbed some killer shots of the sunset. If anyone reading this knows anything about Houston or experienced driving in the traffic knows that it is nuts. The roads are like what you would see in a futuristic sci-fi movie intertwined and loopy. This is why we were really glad we had borrowed the GPS. We liked it so well we had to have the toy to own. Only a block away from our hotel there is a Circuit City and so we stopped. Yep, you guessed it Jeff had to have it and so we did find one of the Garmin's on sale.

Later after we watched our favorite TV show, LOST, we headed out to find something to eat. After 2 strikes because the places closed at 9 p.m. we finally found our destination at Maggie Rita's Bar and Grill. Highly recommended and suggest only ordering 1 meal for 2 people to eat. Jeff and I both are super stuffed! They had great service too! We will see what tomorrow holds. The only thing we have on the calendar is to make sure we are at the rehearsal by 6:15 p.m.

Kirkbride - Johnson

Click here to view the Debut Trailer of their wedding day.

Click Here to pre-register and receive an e-mail to view the remaining wedding pictures when they are available.





Saturday, February 2, 2008 Jeff met the ladies at the Bride, Amber's, house to capture them getting their hair done. Along with getting their hair done they wrapped favors for their guests that consisted of Lamar's Doughnuts. This was special to them because they always would bring doughnuts to each other when dating. I later went to St. Elizabeth Anne Seaton where the ladies finished hair and make-up. Brett also met us there at the church and that was a huge help with Jeff and I were under the weather. He was able to get those candid shots that are timeless. Amber wore a very sleek wedding gown with a sweatheart neckline, embellished with swarouski crystals and a chapel length train. The bridesmaids wore deep plum colored dresses with V-Neck and back that were floor length. Amber was very excited to see Krister, but she wanted to wait till the ceremony. Amber's dad escorted her through the big doors when the ceremony started. Krister was all eyes on Amber.







The ceremony was celebrated by both Father Billinger and Father York. After the ceremony we finished up with pictures in the sanctuary and then proceeded to the Church's Hall where the reception took place. It was a very packed room full of Amber and Krister's family and friends. The cake was white with deep purple flower petals sprinkled over it and the groom's cake had Batman and the Batmobile on it. Following the cake cutting dinner was served buffet style by Corporate Caters which consisted of a Mexican theme. Following dinner the dance kicked off with the couple's first dance and then the parent's dances. The energy was definitely in high gear with all of the guests on the dance floor. The entertainment was provided by Ron Brown with Another Dimension. We were able to sneak Amber and Krister outside shortly after the sun went down to grab some shots using only the natural light under the Bell Tower. Then we got them back to their party before any guests even knew they were gone.



Everyone had a great time and later talking with Ron Brown he said that Krister and Amber danced till they dropped. Krister and Amber, we want to thank you both for letting us be the ones to document your wedding day. You both are super sweet and we hope you had a blast in Hawaii and make sure you stay in touch.

Tyff, Jeff and Brett

Keep'N It Fresh!

For everyone who likes to check out our blog. Jeff, Brett and I are hosting a class that is going to be taught by Mike Colon. The seats will be officially available soon (6 p.m. Jan. 31, 2008)! You can get to the website by clicking here. This will be the first of many as we are planing to make this an annual event. Stay tuned and posted as new events come about!

Keller - Hackler

Click here to view the Debut Trailer of their wedding day.

Click Here to pre-register and receive an e-mail to view the remaining wedding pictures when they are available.



Last Friday we drove to Kansas City to check out the church that Stacy and TJ were going to get married in on Saturday. This was the first rehearsal that I had seen so many vendors for the wedding day attend. She had a church coordinator, Michelle, as well as a hired wedding coordinator, Leslie, which were very helpful. Ron Ruth with Ron Ruth Entertainment who was going to be the DJ for Stacy and TJ's reception attended along with the Florist Marilyn and William of "Wild Geranium" (Jeff's parents), and Barry and Stephanie with Fat Cat Productions. Ron Ruth had an itinerary for all the bridal party and where they were to be during the reception so there were no surprises on their part. There were surprises for the guests but you will have to keep reading to find that out.





To get to know TJ and Stacy a little bit better visit Fat Cat Productions website on their blog to view their "Love Story".





Saturday morning 9 a.m. started with us going to the 9th floor of the Hampton Inn Room 911, The Plaza Suite, where we think we woke up Stacy. Sorry Stacy if we did...This is where the bridesmaids, mothers and flower girl got their hair and make-up done. Afterwards they got to enjoy in some sandwiches that were provided by Panera Bread. About 12:30 Stephanie and I headed over to the church where Jeff and Barry had already beat us to capture the guys getting ready. The ladies all slipped into their red dresses. All the bridesmaids wore dresses with different designs which matched their personalities which was very sleek and sophisticated. Valerie, Stacy's mother, helped Stacy get in her wedding gown which was a champagne in color with a trace of beadwork on the bodice and on the train. She had a floor length veil that overlaid her train very beautifully. Stacy's dress was from the Bellissima Couture Collection, Ophelia. Once Stacy was all dressed she got a letter delivered to her from TJ. It was a very emotional moment for Stacy and lots of happy tears were shed. With her leaning her head back and mother along with bridesmaids assisting her dabbing away the tears to make sure the make-up didn't run. Shortly after is when I went to check to see if TJ was ready to see Stacy and have their private moment together seeing each other for the first time. Both Stacy and TJ looked absolutely stunning and gorgeous. After doing their photo session with the two of them we rolled into the pictures with the wedding party and then both families. About 3:10 we, Stacy and TJ, wedding party, Stephanie, Jeff and I, hopped onto the limo bus that took us to the plaza for some "Quick and Cold" pictures of them. Everybody moved quickly and cooperated very nicely. We got some really cool pictures and have included some in the debut. Then we had to be back to the church, Country Club Christian Church, by 3:40 where they were to be married at 4:00. We made it and the ceremony started without a hitch. Following the ceremony guests showered the newly married couple with red rose petals as they exited the church and got onto the bus where it would take them to the reception, The Hampton Inn.







Stephanie and I road on the bus with the wedding party and beat everyone over to the reception where Stacy and TJ did a receiving line as guests entered into the ball room. The ball room looked absolutely gorgeous with white feathers as the center pieces that sat on top of black linens and a strip of silver cloth as an accent. All the chairs had black covers with silver ribbon bows. The wedding cake was white with red roses that lined all the layers with a Crystal vase with Stacy and TJ's engagement photo printed on it and the groom's cake was a KU Football as they love to watch KU play. When it was time for the guests to be in the ball room each bridesmaid and groomsman were then announced describing how either Stacy and/or TJ had met them and what they like to do for fun. Some of the bridesmaids met during college, on the track team and were all best of friends. Some of the groomsmen included Stacy's brother, TJ's older brother, friends from college and an actor from Hollywood who had played in CSI Miami and a few other shows as well. When Stacy and TJ were announced everybody rose to their feet and clapped as they made it to the head table towards the front of the room. Following was the blessing of the food by TJ's step father and then a teddy bear toss for the kids started off the events on the dance floor. This is where Stacy and TJ tossed a stuffed puppy dog by Stacy and a stuffed Shrek by TJ. The kids all loved it. The ones that didn't get the stuffed toys got a bag of goodies to keep them entertained along with being seated at a coloring table with Wedding Coloring books. Then it was time to cut the cake- where they were so so nice to one another. After going back towards the dance floor tear jerker toasts were delivered by the best men and maids of honor. Then they rolled into the father daughter dance and then the mother son dance. Then it was the surprise for guests to watch Stacy and TJ dance their first dance as husband and wife. It started out all nice and sweet then they broke into a choreographed collaborated of dances. This was great and wonderful to watch! The dollar dance followed shortly afterwards. After getting the guests all on the dance floor Ron Ruth announced for the single ladies to come to the dance floor to catch the bouquet. Then following was the garter toss as TJ was a good gentleman till it was off past the knee as he finished it off with his teeth. He threw the garter that was attached to an autographed football. Everyone had a great time and we want to thank you guys for allowing us to be the ones to document your special day. May there be many more and please keep in touch!

Tyff and Jeff